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''Dubuque'' deployed again in 2008 with the {{USS|Peleliu|LHA-5|2}} Expeditionary Strike Group and participated in rescuing six mariners from a sinking vessel[http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=37542]. The event was an exemplary incident, which proved the flexibility of U.S. Maritime Strategy in time of crisis or emergency.
''Dubuque'' deployed again in 2008 with the {{USS|Peleliu|LHA-5|2}} Expeditionary Strike Group and participated in rescuing six mariners from a sinking vessel[http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=37542]. The event was an exemplary incident, which proved the flexibility of U.S. Maritime Strategy in time of crisis or emergency.

In early May 2009 the Dubuque had to abort an aid mission to the South Pacific after a sailor onboard developed swine flu.<ref name= ship>{{cite web |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8034991.stm |title= US navy halts aid vessel over flu |publisher= BBC News |date= 2009-05-06 |accessdate= 2009-05-05}}</ref>


==Awards==
==Awards==

Revision as of 07:47, 6 May 2009

For other ships with the same name, see USS Dubuque.
USS Dubuque (LPD-8)

USS Dubuque
History
USN JackUSA
NameUSS Dubuque
Namesakethe city of Dubuque, Iowa
Ordered25 January 1963
Laid down25 January 1965
Launched6 August 1966
Commissioned1 September 1967
HomeportNaval Base San Diego
MottoOur Country, Heritage, and Future
Nickname(s)The Mighty 8
Honors and
awards		list error: <br /> list (help)
Navy Unit Commendation (2)
Meritorious Unit Commendation (3)
Battle Efficiency Award (3)
Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
FateTemplate:Ship fate box active in service
General characteristics
Class and typeAustin-class
TypeLanding Platform Dock (LPD)
Displacementlist error: <br /> list (help)
9,521 long tons (9,674 t) light;
17,252 long tons (17,529 t) full;
7,731 long tons (7,855 t) dwt
Lengthlist error: <br /> list (help)
570 ft (170 m) overall;
548 ft (167 m) waterline
Beamlist error: <br /> list (help)
100 ft (30 m) extreme;
84 ft (26 m) waterline
Draft23 ft (7.0 m) maximum
Speed21 knots (24 mph; 39 km/h)
Complement61 officers, 600 men

USS Dubuque (LPD-8), an Austin-class amphibious transport dock, is the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the city of Dubuque, Iowa. Her keel was laid down on 25 January 1965 by Ingalls Shipbuilding. She was launched on 6 August 1966 and commissioned on 1 September 1967 at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia. In November 1967, the ship arrived at her first homeport of San Diego, California after transiting the Panama Canal.

From 1968 until 1975, Dubuque made five Western Pacific deployments that saw extensive duty in Vietnam. In a highly publicized event in October 1968, the ship returned 14 repatriated prisoners of war to North Vietnam. From 1969 until 1971 the ship conducted ten "Keystone Cardinal" troop lifts to Okinawa as part of the "Vietnamization" of the war. From February to June of 1973 the ship operated helicopters that conducted naval mine clearance operations in Haiphong Harbor as part of Operation End Sweep. In April 1975 the ship participated in the evacuation of Saigon and the rescue of refugees fleeing South Vietnam.

On 15 August 1985 Dubuque departed San Diego for its new homeport of Sasebo, Japan, where she arrived 4 September 1985. There, she joined the Seventh Fleet Overseas Family Residency Program, her primary mission to support the Marine Corps in the Western Pacific.

In May 1988 Dubuque deployed to the Persian Gulf and served as the control ship for mine sweeping operations to protect US-flagged tankers during the Iran–Iraq War. For its participation in this operation, the ship was awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation. In 1989 the ship participated in the contingency operation to evacuate American personnel from the Philippines during a failed coup attempt.

Immediately following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in August 1990, Dubuque received deployed to the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Desert Shield. The ship functioned as the leading element of Amphibious Ready Group Bravo, which transported Marine Regimental Landing Team Four to Al Jubayl, Saudi Arabia during the critical early stages of the multi-national build up.

In November 1998 Dubuque again deployed to the Persian Gulf as part of the Belleau Wood Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) on support of Operation Desert Fox.

Need information from 1992 to present.

On 30 July 1999, Dubuque was relieved by USS Juneau (LPD-10) as part of the forward-deployed naval forces. Since then, she has been once again homeported in San Diego, California.

From June to September 1999, Dubuque participated in the first SHIP-SWAP with her sister-ship Juneau, where each ship's crew remained in their original home ports, allowing Dubuque to return to the homeport of San Diego.

From September 2006 to May 2007 Dubuque was deployed with the USS Boxer (LHD-4) and the USS Comstock (LSD-19), transporting the 15th MEU to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom where among other missions the ship served as a holding facility for Iraqi POW's.

Dubuque deployed again in 2008 with the Peleliu Expeditionary Strike Group and participated in rescuing six mariners from a sinking vessel[1]. The event was an exemplary incident, which proved the flexibility of U.S. Maritime Strategy in time of crisis or emergency.

In early May 2009 the Dubuque had to abort an aid mission to the South Pacific after a sailor onboard developed swine flu.[1]

Awards

Official ribbons as of March 3, 2002[citation needed]

According to the Navy Awards website[2], the Dubuque has received one Navy Unit Commendation, four Meritorious Unit Commendations, three Battle Efficiency Awards, three Armed Forces Expeditionary Medals, three Humanitarian Service Medals and participated in countless amphibious exercises and operations throughout the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Refugee Controversy

On 10 June 1988 Dubuque discovered a boat containing 80 refugees escaping from Vietnam; at least 20 others had already died on the voyage. The Vietnamese refugees had been stranded out at sea for 17 days due to an engine failure, but because of translation errors Dubuque's commanding officer, Captain Alexander Balian, believed the refugees had been adrift for only 7 days and that there were only 60 people onboard. He provided the boat with food, water and navigation charts, but did not embark the refugees or render further assistance. The food and water lasted only several days, but the boat continued to drift for a further 19 days. Thirty more people died and the remaining refugees were forced to engage in cannibalism in order to survive. The boat was eventually rescued by Filipino fisherman.[2]

Captain Balain was relieved of command by Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet. He refused Admiral's Mast and per his rights under the Uniform Code of Military Justice requested court martial, where he was found guilty of dereliction of duty and given a letter of reprimand. [3]

Trivia

Notes

  1. ^ "US navy halts aid vessel over flu". BBC News. 2009-05-06. Retrieved 2009-05-05.
  2. ^ Rubel and Lucas, Case Studies, p. 13-15, p. 199.
  3. ^ Rubel and Lucas, Case Studies, p. 199.

References

  • Rubel, Rick (2006 reprint). Case Studies in Ethics for Military Leaders. Boston: Pearason Custom Publishing. ISBN 053627018X. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)


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